PESHAWAR: The appointment of Shaukatullah Khan as Governor of Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has triggered a controversy because he is not a registered voter and resident of the province.
He took oath of office on Sunday. Khan who hails from Bajaur Agency was elected to the National Assembly from NA-43 in the 2008.
When contacted, Presidency’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said there was no illegality in the appointment of the governor.
Official sources said that the provincial government headed by the Awami National Party had not been taken into confidence before the appointment of the governor and it appeared that the decision was made in haste.
Constitutional expert Qazi Mohammad Anwer said that Khan could claim that he was also a resident of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because he owned a house there, but he would have to prove that he was a registered voter.
internews
